The Wildcat varsity soccer team kicked off last week by pulling off ‘one of the greatest comebacks in a long time,? according to Head Coach John Thaler, when Oxford scored in the last two seconds of the game against Birmingham Seaholm, the OAA White Division leaders, to end in a 1-1 tie.
‘It was a great battle between two quality teams,? said Thaler, noting that they were pretty much back to full-strength with all their starters fully-recovered from injuries.?
According to Thaler, the Wildcats played a high tempo game and had a few quality chances on goal, but Oxford’s defense led by senior captain Greg Knox held a tight backline, which rarely allowed the Maples many chances on goal. The Wildcats and the Maples ended the first half tied 0-0.
Oxford started the second half with a lot of possession and great movement, but with a quick counter-attack, Seaholm was the first to put the ball in the back of the net, gaining a 1-0 lead.
After making a few adjustments up top, the Wildcats created a near miss on goal when junior captain Nick Wright slotted the ball across the goal mouth, which was barely missed by two Oxford players. With time winding down, Oxford continued to press high and throw nearly everyone into the box. With less than 20 seconds on the clock Seaholm cleared the ball out of their end, but the foot of junior Ethan Cutler who punched the ball back into the box from 25 yards out. It found the head of senior captain Devan DeJong who directed far post with exactly two seconds left on the clock! The game ended a 1-1 draw.
‘It was probably one of the best games, from beginning to end, all season,? Thaler said.
On Friday, Oxford traveled to West Bloomfield for another battle in the OAA White division. The Cats walked away with a 2-1 victory.
The Wildcats controlled most of the possession in the first 15 minutes of the game, but a quick counter from the Lakers exposed Oxford’s defense and an unmarked player was able to get a free shot to the back of goal to take a 1-0 lead.
While still maintaining a majority of the possession, during a throw-in, Senior Greg Knox launched found fellow senior captain Devan Dejong, who nodded the ball in to tie up the game. The half ended 1 -1.
In the second half, Oxford continued to maintain the pressure by taking shots at-will at the Lakers? goal. It was Oxford’s turn on a quick counter and Dejong found a sprinting junior captain Nick Wright who tucked his shot near post to go up 2 ? 1. West Bloomfield had a few shots on goal, but junior keeper Eddie Diaz-Vela turned away any chances.
Oxford’s defense of Knox, Zach Rall, Ethan Cutler, Dominic Bertacini and Trevor Dean held the Lakers to very few looks on net.
‘We controlled much of the game and had very little to worry about from the Laker offense,? Thaler said. ‘Backup keeper Eddie Diaz Vela played a great game and only had to make a few saves to secure the win.?
Oxford is 3-1-4 in the OAA White and 7-2-6 overall.